Hello fellow music makers! 👋

I know how daunting it can be to produce tracks that sound artificial and robotic, especially if you’re into electronic music genres like techno and house. But here’s the thing, the secret to avoiding this is by adding a human touch to your drum programming. Yes, you heard me right! By humanizing your drums, you add that live feeling and groove that makes your tracks more interesting and enjoyable.

In this blog post, I’ll be giving you tips and tricks on how to humanize your drum programming and add that musicality that’ll make your tracks stand out! So, let’s get started! 🥁

Timing is Everything

One of the most significant factors contributing to the robotic feel of electronic drum programming is perfect timing. Sure, perfection is essential in most aspects of music production, but when it comes to drums, it’s a different story. The beauty of human drumming is that it’s not always on the click - some notes are played before or after the beat. Adding a slight swing or shuffle to your drums can also give them a more natural feel.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with different timings and groove feels. Remember, the aim is to make your drums sound organic, not like they’re coming from a machine.

A drummer playing an acoustic drum kit

Velocity Variation

Another trick to make your drums sound human is by varying their velocity. For instance, human drum playing involves some hits being harder while others are softer. So, instead of having the same velocity on every note, try varying it slightly.

Using MIDI controllers like a keyboard will allow you to set different velocities for each note easily. Additionally, you can also play your drums live using MIDI triggers and capture the velocity variations from your playing.

A MIDI keyboard

Adding Ghost Notes

Ghost notes are the quieter notes that drummers play in between the beat to add groove and rhythm. Adding these subtle notes will give your drums that natural, organic feel, as they make the drums sound like they were played live.

When adding ghost notes, ensure that they’re not too loud and that they fit within the groove that you’re going for. Listening to some live drumming will give you a better idea of how to incorporate ghost notes into your drum programming.

A drummer playing live with ghost notes added

Drum Timbres

Electronic drum libraries are great and offer a vast array of sounds that you can work with. However, they can sound robotic if not used appropriately. To make your drum programming more human, experiment with different drum timbres, as human drum playing involves using different drums and cymbals to create a unique rhythm.

For instance, try using different snares, hi-hats, and kicks in your drum programming to create intricate rhythms and grooves that sound like they were played by a human.

A live drum set with different drums and cymbals

Conclusion

And there you have it, folks! Five tips on how to humanize your drum programming and make your tracks sound more organic. Remember, the aim is not to remove the technicality and perfection that electronic music has but rather, to give it a groove and human feel that’ll make it stand out.

So, next time you’re working on your drum programming, keep these tips in mind, and watch your tracks come to life!

🎶 Happy music-making! 🎶

An image of a drummer playing with a crowd in the background